We all have those days. Those days when you think your life just could not be any worse.
Those days when you just want to lie in bed under the warm blankets and pretend like you do not have a million things to do and worry about.
Those days when you just want to curl up in a ball and cry.
On those days, and every other day, it is important to realize that we have so much in life to be grateful for. Whether it is having a shoulder to cry on, a roof over your head, food in your stomach, an education, or clean drinking water, your life and situation can always be worse. You can always find something to be thankful for, no matter how small it is.
From waking up in the morning with text messages from your family wishing you a good day at school, to being happy and healthy, the possibilities are endless.
Throughout my life, my family and I have hit a lot of bumps in the road. My mom has always told me that no matter how bad life can seem sometimes, there is always someone in the world who has it worse than you do.
And that is the motto I live by every single day.
Thanksgiving is always a great time of year to think about what you are grateful for, but this also needs to be expressed year-round. We should constantly be telling our families how much we love and appreciate them.
We should always be wondering how we could help other people, whether it is volunteering your time, donating to a food pantry, or simply showing kindness by saying hello or holding the door open for a stranger, we can always find ways to make the world a better place and appreciate all we have.
I know this is easier said than done, but finding positives in life can make any situation or tough day seem much more manageable. Personally, I am beyond thankful every single day for having such a loving and supportive family that I can always rely on.
No matter the situation, they are always there to help me in any way possible. They are the first people that I celebrate my successes with, cry about my failures, and look to for guidance.
Next time you see someone who has been a rock in your life like my family has been in mine, make sure to thank them for what they have done for you, hug them a little tighter, and express your gratitude about having them in your life. Maybe even send them a quick text message or call telling them you love them.
Never take people like this for granted, as you do not realize how lucky you are to have them until you really need them or they are gone.
Make sure to always show them your appreciation, no matter how big or small of a way they have positively impacted you in the moment.
Some people are not fortunate enough to have a Thanksgiving feast with their family, and that is something I am extremely thankful to have every year. I am thankful to have such a loving and supportive mom, dad, and sister.
I am thankful to have the opportunity to further my education, and eventually make an impact on other people’s lives through the power of being a teacher.
I am thankful that my birthday is always the week of Thanksgiving, as it means I am always home to celebrate it with the people I love the most.
I am even thankful for all of the difficulties my family has been through the past few years, as it brought us closer together and has made us realize how fortunate we really are, and to have one another be a part of our many challenges we are faced with.
No matter what curveballs life throws at us next, I know I can always count on my family to be there for me, and I think they know I am there to support them too.
If you are like me, make sure you work extra hard on expressing what you are grateful for more often, and never take anything for granted. Tell the people you love that you are thankful to have them in your life all the time, not just around Thanksgiving.
Appreciate the little things in life. You never know just when those things that seem so insignificant and are taken for granted will go away. Try to see the positives in life when you are feeling down, and remember that someone always has it worse than you do.
If anything, be thankful that you have lived to see another day.
